Report Says Ptl Records Subpoenaed

August 15, 1987|United Press International

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Justice Department subpoena has ordered the surrender of documents concerning PTL television ministry operations under founder Jim Bakker dating back to 1980, a report said Friday.

The subpoena, delivered to chief operating officer Harry Hargrave, calls for thousands of PTL financial records, videotapes and memos from the past seven years, the Charlotte Observer said.

Hargrave could not be reached for comment.

Officials have said the investigation deals with possible tax, mail and wire fraud at PTL. A federal grand jury is scheduled to met in Charlotte Monday to begin hearing the evidence, but federal investigators are not commenting on the case.

``What grand jury investigation?`` asked Charles Alexander, with the IRS criminal investigation division in Charlotte. `` I have no comment on any grand jury investigation.``

Alexander said all grand jury subpoenas were sealed and secret.

But federal investigators have made no secret of their presence at the ministry during the past several weeks, setting up shop on the third floor of the ministry`s headquarters on the grounds of Heritage USA for more than a month.